To help you find the best rechargeable AA batteries for all of your household and office devices, we spent over 13 hours testing 15 different units. As we installed each different battery into our battery-powered devices, we looked specifically for long life, high recharge cycles and low self-discharge rates. We also measured the rechargeable batteries on their recharge speed and overall durability.

The Energizer Recharge Power Plus rechargeable AA batteries are the clear winner of our top pick spot, due to their low self-discharge rate, long-lasting performance and brand reliability. They’re also made from recycled batteries for the eco-conscious buyer. Keep reading to learn more about the Energizer Recharge Power Plus batteries and the other best rechargeable AA batteries on our list.

Top 6 Best Rechargeable AA Batteries

#1 AmazonBasics Rechargeable AA Batteries

WHY WE LIKE IT: The AmazonBasics rechargeable AA batteries are extra reliable and provide low self-discharge. With 16 batteries in each pack, these batteries offer a ton of value.

Pros

Long 24 month self-discharge

1,000 recharge cycles

1 year warranty

Cons

Packaging can be frustrating to open

Only 2000 mAh

Like most everything Amazon does, the AmazonBasics rechargeable AA batteries are simple and efficient. They come in Amazon’s Certified Frustration-Free Packaging (which can still be frustrating at times) and are pre-charged from the factory. They also offer reliable battery life, even in spite of the relatively low 2000 mAh capacity.

More than anything, the AmazonBasics AA batteries have a super low self-discharge time of around 24 months before reaching 80% capacity. You can also charge each battery up to 1,000 times before they lose their overall efficiency. Charging time is also relatively quick, but with a total of 16 batteries in the pack, it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself without a charged battery to replace depleted units. They are among the best rechargeable aas.

#2 Panasonic eneloop Rechargeable AA Batteries

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Panasonic eneloop rechargeable AA batteries are long-lasting with plenty of recharge cycles and a long self discharge time. These are the perfect batteries for users who like to be prepared with fresh batteries no matter what the situation is.

Pros

Excellent 2,100 recharge cycles

10 year self discharge

Good cold-temperature performance

Cons

2000 mAh

Longer charge time

The Panasonic eneloop rechargeable AA batteries are long lasting and offer good overall performance for most devices. However, they really shine when it comes to longevity. For starters, the eneloop batteries can maintain up to 70% of their charge over the course of 10 years when not used. This incredibly low self-discharge rate is a feat to be applauded. The batteries are also rated to handle up to 2,100 recharge cycles before losing their power efficiency.

The eneloop rechargeable AA batteries only feature 2000 mAh of capacity, which is on the lower end of the batteries that we included on our list, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. It just means you’ll need to charge them more often. Fortunately, this is an 8 pack of batteries, so you’ll have plenty of flexibility in keeping backups charged for immediate use. The eneloop batteries also come pre-charged from the factory and perform well in temperatures as cold as -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

#3 Duracell Rechargeable AA Batteries

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Duracell rechargeable AA batteries are reliable and powerful, with proprietary Ion Core technology. They also offer the best shelf life on our list, so they can be stored for a long period of time.

Pros

Powerful Ion Core technology

10 year shelf life

Good brand reliability

Cons

400 recharge cycles

Expensive for 4 pack

The Duracell rechargeable AA batteries come in a pack of 4 and offer tons of brand reliability. Duracell is a big player in the battery world and that reliability shows in the quality of these batteries. They’re durable and long-lasting, powered by proprietary Ion Core technology that increases overall performance. They also hold a charge for a good amount of time and charge quickly when depleted.

Unfortunately, the batteries are only rated for a total of 400 recharge cycles before losing their high level of efficiency. This means you’ll either be purchasing new batteries at a greater rate or dealing with shorter battery life. When fully charged but not in use, the Duracell AA rechargeable batteries can hold their charge for up to a full year and they offer a total of 10 years of shelf life, even when not charged. This is the longest battery life on our list, which isn’t something to be taken lightly.

#4 Energizer Recharge Universal Rechargeable AA Batteries

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Energizer Recharge Universal rechargeable AA batteries are powerful, reliable and long-lasting, easily propelling them to our top pick spot. And with a 1 year self-discharge rate and short charge time, these batteries offer the most value.

Pros

5 year usable battery life

Ships pre-charged

Made from recycled batteries

Cons

1000 recharge cycles

More expensive than others options

1 year self discharge

Energizer is one of the most well-known names in the battery world; no one can forget about the Energizer Bunny. Fortunately, the marketing surrounding this battery brand is spot on. The Energizer rechargeable AA batteries are long lasting and powerful, able to power both high-drain and low-drain devices with ease. These are 2000 mAh batteries, which is about average, you’ll get plenty of charge from them. In fact, they typically last up to 420 minutes per charge before needing a recharge. They can also retain their full charge for up to a year without use.

The Energizer AA batteries also come pre-charged whenever you purchase a new pack, which was extra convenient to get you started without waiting for long charge times. Unfortunately, the Energizer option can only take up to 1000 recharge cycles before dropping below 85% of its overall capacity. If you need long-lasting and reliable battery life in your rechargeable batteries, you can’t go wrong with Energizer. The batteries are also comprised of around 4% recycled batteries, so you’ll receive also helping the environment when you buy a pack.

#5 Powerowl AA Rechargeable Batteries

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Powerowl AA rechargeable batteries offer the highest capacity on our list and come in a pack of 16. If you need the longest lasting and most durable batteries, look no further than the Powerowl ultra-high capacity option.

Pros

Excellent 2800 mAh capacity

3 year self-discharge

Durable

Cons

Not pre-charged

Longer charge time

Expensive

The biggest selling point of the Powerowl AA rechargeable batteries is their ultra-high capacity. Sitting at 2800 mAh, these batteries are the most powerful units on our list and offer the longest overall battery life. Of course, with this higher capacity, you can expect to wait longer for full charges, but we think it’s well worth the wait. Fortunately, the Powerowl batteries are also slow to self-discharge, and they keep up to 70% of their power after 3 years of non-use.

We were also impressed with the Powerowl batteries’ durable construction. Since you’ll always be handling the same set of 16 batteries, it’s comforting to know that they won’t wear out too fast. While these are more expensive than other options on our list, the added value and battery life is well worth the price.

#6 EBL 2300 mAh Rechargeable AA Batteries

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Powerowl AA rechargeable batteries offer the highest capacity on our list and come in a pack of 16. If you need the longest lasting and most durable batteries, look no further than the Powerowl ultra-high capacity option.

Pros

Impressive high-drain device performance

1,200 recharge cycles

Includes handy storage case

Cons

Not the greatest shelf life

Slower charge time

The EBL 2300 mAh rechargeable batteries are the most affordable options on our list, but they don’t sacrifice power or reliability for that affordability. They last two times longer than their alkaline counterparts and offer plenty of versatility over non-rechargeable options. For starters, the EBL batteries can be recharged up to a total of 1,200 times without any negative effect and perform really well in high-drain devices like video game console controllers and digital cameras.

These EBL batteries offer an impressive 2300 mAh of capacity, which is impressive on a budget. The batteries even include a handy storage case so you can store them when they’re not in use without worrying about them getting damaged or lost. They do come pre-charged, but take a bit longer to charge than other options on our list. All in all, these budget rechargeable AA batteries are an excellent choice for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a lot for more versatility in their battery options.

How We Decided

As we tested each rechargeable AA battery that we purchased, we looked mainly for three things: performance, rechargeability and value. The best batteries feature a good combination of each of these three features which creates a long-lasting and user-friendly experience.

When it comes to performance, we measured each battery first on battery life. You don’t want to be left without charge after a short time of use in your devices, even in high-drain devices. The best rechargeable AA batteries provide hours of usage. We also considered overall charge time here. Once you do run out of charge, you don’t want to be waiting forever to get back to a full charge. We included batteries with a quick charge time and long lifespan.

Finally, we considered the overall value of the rechargeable AA batteries we tested. During our testing, we compared overall price and the number of individual batteries included in the package. We also considered the inclusion of a battery charge with your purchase, although this didn’t play a huge factor in our final ranking.

Best Rechargeable AA Batteries Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

Battery Life When you purchase a rechargeable battery, you’re probably not overly concerned about battery life because you can simply recharge the battery once its depleted. However, battery life is still an important consideration to make. You don’t want to constantly be recharging your batteries after a few short hours of usage. Battery life is a mixture of discharge rate and total battery capacity, measured in milliampere-hour (mAh). The higher the mAh, the longer-lasting the battery. Rechargeable AA batteries range in the amount of capacity they offer, but most are around 2,000 – 2,500 mAh. High capacity options range upwards of 2,800 mAh for those devices that need that extra bit of charge.

Recharge Cycles Another important consideration to make when purchasing new rechargeable AA batteries is how often you can recharge them after they become completely depleted. You can’t recharge batteries forever without losing efficiency and eventually losing usability entirely. The best rechargeable AA batteries can be recharged as many as 2,000 times, but you should expect 500 – 1,000 recharge cycles from the average rechargeable battery. Higher capacity batteries also tend to have a lower number of recharge cycles, while those with lower capacities tend to have a higher number of recharge cycles.

Battery Type The most common type of rechargeable AA battery you’ll see on the market today is Nickel Metal Hydride, or NiMH or Ni-MH. These are much more efficient than the older Nickel Cadmium rechargeable batteries that were once so popular, but one of the best features of NiMH batteries when compared to the Ni-Cad batteries is the fact that they don’t have any kind of memory. This means that NiMH batteries won’t lose any kind of capacity if you charge them before they’re fully depleted. We only included Ni-MH AA batteries on our list, which means you won’t find any rechargeable lithium AA batteries on this list. We found Ni-MH batteries to be the most reliable and safest, although lithium batteries are still excellent options.

Shelf Life It’s likely that you won’t be using each AA battery at any given time. This is why it’s important to consider the battery’s total shelf life. This is the measure of how long a battery can theoretically last without ever being installed in a device and used. Rechargeable batteries often factor in recharge cycles into overall shelf life, but you should also be able to rely on batteries for a certain amount of time before using them. We recommend you only purchase rechargeable AA batteries that have a 5-year shelf life, but if you can find an option that offers up to 10 years of shelf life, that’s even better.

Rechargeable AA Batteries FAQs

Are rechargeable AA batteries worth it?

Yes, rechargeable AA batteries are definitely worth it! While they may be a little more expensive than traditional, non-rechargeable options, these batteries offer plenty more value and an overall longer lifespan. This way, you know that if you ever run out of charge, you can simply just recharge the batteries for a time rather than venture out to buy more.

What can you use rechargeable AA batteries in?

AA is one of the most common batteries you can purchase today. And just because you’re purchasing a rechargeable option doesn’t mean that you suddenly become limited in what devices you can use with these batteries. You can use rechargeable AA batteries in anything including wireless keyboards, toys, TV remotes, clocks and more.

Are rechargeable AA batteries dangerous?

For the most part, rechargeable AA batteries are completely safe for use. While there are always inherent risks with rechargeable batteries, they are often very small with AA batteries and not something you should ever worry about.

When he’s not exploring everything Oregon has to offer with his family, Ryan Hansen is probably writing. He loves writing about anything he can get his hands on, and is always anxious for the next adventure.

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